Living proof that Kerry Minnear, unsung and non-descript, is one of the most creative and prolific composers ever to grace the modern progressive genre.
Richard Wielgosz I don't mean to be uncool, but comparing Minnear to Bach in terms of musical complexity is a grave overstatement. Even to this day Bach's music is unsurpassed for its mathematical properties. Minnear is an unbelievably great musician in his own right, but even in his lifetime I don't believe he will rise to mastership over Bach's talent.
@@areulsois8411 I don't think it's right to compare musicians interhistorically (and -geographically) like this in terms of ability. One of the things that sets Minnear apart is his unique use of western classical theory. But _that_ quality is only unique as compared to contemporary musicians, and probably the one most people notice. The other thing that sets him apart from classical writing is his funk influence. To me, that's the most striking feature in his music, because I listen to more classical music than rock.
I smile and then laugh to myself every time I hear these clips. So many awesome fragments that are just begging to go on. I'm glad we have these to listen to...but man, it's like dying of thirst in the desert w/ the source of water just out of arm's reach. Wonderful, just wonderful clips.
Only listening that first tune I'm agree with you. It works as a modern but still vintage, instrumental version of Gentle Giant. Similar to Kerry Livgren from Kansas in the 2000 group's album Somewhere to Elsewhere but just without vocals (Kerry Livgren did all keyboards and in his solo albums he played every instrument)
@Zbygniev Prlwytzkofski It's a doubt that I carry with me too. Through the elaborate compositions, melodic line of his songs, instrumental talent level and especially the singular voice, Kerry could have mended a stupendous solo career, so the GG disbanded. A career at the level of Jon Anderson, Ian Anderson or Roger Hodgson. I wonder about the masterpieces this guy might have written.
Many excellent cues but The sequence at 4:25 is exceptional and should have become a song. The last one is super funky and it shows that Minnear`s taste, technique and compositional skills are a cut above the rest.
I never understood the appeal of Jethro Tull. ‘What’s the first song?’ ‘It’s a folk rock thing, sung by a man with wild staring eyes, who plays the flute standing on one leg.’ ‘Very original! What’s the second song?’ ‘It’s a folk rock thing, sung by a man with wild staring eyes, who plays the flute standing on one leg.’ ‘I see. And the third song?’ ‘ it’s a folk rock thing - ‘ ‘Yes, I see where this is going. So all the songs are exactly the same?’ ‘Yes, pretty much...’
@@johnsurrey7426 Agreed! Nowhere close to the complex creativity of Gentle Giant. Well to each his own, Tull never moved me like Gentle Giant. I’m sure they did for many others.
When I first heard the Giant On The Box themes, I was impressed. However, in typical Minnear fashion, Kerry really had me moved with the feel of somber nostalgia played here in the theme at 4:20 from GG at the GG. Great stuff.
the undeniable handwriting (musically) by Kerry M. That is the proof, who the original mentor of GGs was (that is not to say that the Shulman brothers weren´t brilliant either)
The video is like you walking among each album and the album is playing!! Lemme explain. You hear "playing the game" when "the power and the glory" is at your right but it isn't all: if you use headphones the sound of "playing the game" comes from the right channel EXACTLY WHEN POWER AND THE GLORY IS AT YOUR RIGHT SIDE! Same thing for "on reflection" when "free hand" comes at your left. A GENIUS MADE THIS!!!
Brilliant. Love the bit beginning at 2:01. Could listen to a whole album of this stuff. Couldn't care less if it could be reconstructed faithly LIVE or not. So Kerry: get those Pro Tools going and post CD's to buy on your website(ala Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout-Love their Earth: the story so far -- all on Pro-tools(?) and I love his good lyric subject/theme. Johnnnny
I LOVE THIS! One of my favorite surprises on "Giant On The Box" was the totally brilliant menu music. I'm really curious to hear what any new "Three Friends" tunes could sound like!
Does anyone notice how the first two sequences echo parts of THE POWER AND THE GLORY? 1) Has the xylophone part from "Playing the Game." 0:23 2) The drum pattern, the one and only, from "Proclamation." 1:20 The fourth sequence gives off a "Proclamation" vibe, too. 2:47 The fifth sequence uses a different part of the drum part for "Proclamation," as well. 3:54 And, of course, Kerry Minnear always loved his clavinet. Edit: At 0:18, we have "The Advent of Panurge," don't we?
I agree, I wouldn't discount Civillian as an album, a lot of good standout tracks that you can enjoy on their own merits. I just think it's funny, having heard what the band thought of the album in interviews, then seeing it so blatantly shuffled off into a corner.
Living proof that Kerry Minnear, unsung and non-descript, is one of the most creative and prolific composers ever to grace the modern progressive genre.
My hero! The most underrated genius of the entire prog rock era along with Ray Schulman
Minnear is like Bach. That beautiful and that complex. The last 35 years have been boring without his compositions.
Richard Wielgosz I don't mean to be uncool, but comparing Minnear to Bach in terms of musical complexity is a grave overstatement. Even to this day Bach's music is unsurpassed for its mathematical properties. Minnear is an unbelievably great musician in his own right, but even in his lifetime I don't believe he will rise to mastership over Bach's talent.
Not the first time that Kerry has been compared to the Masters...
@@___xyz___ he is not on bach's level but you can sense bach's influence on his compositions
@@areulsois8411 I don't think it's right to compare musicians interhistorically (and -geographically) like this in terms of ability. One of the things that sets Minnear apart is his unique use of western classical theory. But _that_ quality is only unique as compared to contemporary musicians, and probably the one most people notice. The other thing that sets him apart from classical writing is his funk influence. To me, that's the most striking feature in his music, because I listen to more classical music than rock.
@@areulsois8411 Opinions are like assholes. Everybody's got one and they all stink.
Minnear's counterpoint is on par with Bach ALL DAY LONG.
In my humble...... the most advanced, mind blowing, band to permeate my cerebellum and my aural senses.
Viva la Giant.
most underrarted keyboard player
So fine. Pure Minnear.
Agreed-I love his voice-far too underrated in the history of Gentle Giant
Kerry and Patrick Moraz were the best keyboardists of that era. Wonderful tunes.
Sorry Tony Banks from Genesis and Rick Wakeman of YES were ! Cheers from Québec Canada !
@@stefaneau2112 Cant be without Keith Emerson, Chick Corea and Jan Hammer.
I smile and then laugh to myself every time I hear these clips. So many awesome fragments that are just begging to go on. I'm glad we have these to listen to...but man, it's like dying of thirst in the desert w/ the source of water just out of arm's reach. Wonderful, just wonderful clips.
I have this DVD and I love these little tunes on the menu's with that great GG style !!!!!!!
The heart and soul of Gentle Giant
Why did this man not make a solo instrumental album? I will have to make this video into a track because the whole thing is awesome.
Only listening that first tune I'm agree with you. It works as a modern but still vintage, instrumental version of Gentle Giant. Similar to Kerry Livgren from Kansas in the 2000 group's album Somewhere to Elsewhere but just without vocals (Kerry Livgren did all keyboards and in his solo albums he played every instrument)
Zbygniev Prlwytzkofski
Funny, I was just thinking of your Gentle Giant-inspired music while watching this video, and here you are!
@Zbygniev Prlwytzkofski It's a doubt that I carry with me too. Through the elaborate compositions, melodic line of his songs, instrumental talent level and especially the singular voice, Kerry could have mended a stupendous solo career, so the GG disbanded. A career at the level of Jon Anderson, Ian Anderson or Roger Hodgson. I wonder about the masterpieces this guy might have written.
I completely agree. I think the music Kerry did for this was WONDERFUL and I wanted to hear more.
paul adams
this arrangement is great
Three friends playng now whit cleverness and also have grit of 20 years old boy
Wonderful!
Many excellent cues but The sequence at 4:25 is exceptional and should have become a song. The last one is super funky and it shows that Minnear`s taste, technique and compositional skills are a cut above the rest.
I think Jethro Tull needed a musician like Kerry
I assume that would have caused an awful lot of friction between Kerry and Ian Anderson.
I never understood the appeal of Jethro Tull. ‘What’s the first song?’ ‘It’s a folk rock thing, sung by a man with wild staring eyes, who plays the flute standing on one leg.’ ‘Very original! What’s the second song?’ ‘It’s a folk rock thing, sung by a man with wild staring eyes, who plays the flute standing on one leg.’ ‘I see. And the third song?’ ‘ it’s a folk rock thing - ‘ ‘Yes, I see where this is going. So all the songs are exactly the same?’ ‘Yes, pretty much...’
@@johnsurrey7426 Agreed! Nowhere close to the complex creativity of Gentle Giant. Well to each his own, Tull never moved me like Gentle Giant. I’m sure they did for many others.
No. There would be no GG.
When I first heard the Giant On The Box themes, I was impressed. However, in typical Minnear fashion, Kerry really had me moved with the feel of somber nostalgia played here in the theme at 4:20 from GG at the GG. Great stuff.
I'm suprised Kerry never wrote a movie soundtrack. He'd be perfect!
Spectacular music. Clever counterpoints.
the undeniable handwriting (musically) by Kerry M. That is the proof, who the original mentor of GGs was (that is not to say that the Shulman brothers weren´t brilliant either)
The piece at 4:21 is heavenly
Amazing......... I Love It
I hear Three Friends, Advent of Panurge, Playing the Game and On Reflection in the first tune
And the introduction of the drums in the second tune is the same as in Proclamation
The video is like you walking among each album and the album is playing!!
Lemme explain.
You hear "playing the game" when "the power and the glory" is at your right but it isn't all: if you use headphones the sound of "playing the game" comes from the right channel EXACTLY WHEN POWER AND THE GLORY IS AT YOUR RIGHT SIDE!
Same thing for "on reflection" when "free hand" comes at your left.
A GENIUS MADE THIS!!!
"It's just a DVD menu, don't go too hard with the background music"
Kerry:
Kerry Minnear and I rest my case.
This is too cool. Never heard this and I'm a huge GG fan!
This stuff makes me dance.
at 5 min... just listening! amazing
Brilliant. Love the bit beginning at 2:01. Could listen to a whole album of this stuff. Couldn't care less if it could be reconstructed faithly LIVE or not. So Kerry: get those Pro Tools going and post CD's to buy on your website(ala Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout-Love their Earth: the story so far -- all on Pro-tools(?) and I love his good lyric subject/theme. Johnnnny
Great, thank you. Posted link to GG facebook group which generated interest
what GG might sound in the 2000's ? :)
❤❤❤❤ thank you so much!!! I love it!!!!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤
Wow, many of these themes, if not all, could have evolved into fully developed songs.
Absolure genius.
Ha! I made exactly the same compilation of these menu-tracks, because they are awsome! I thought that we could play them with my band!
I even did my own compilation of these clips from this DVD, i thought i would play these live with my band..
I LOVE THIS!
One of my favorite surprises on "Giant On The Box" was the totally brilliant menu music.
I'm really curious to hear what any new "Three Friends" tunes could sound like!
Fantastic
Great as allways !
thank you for posting this... i'd love to find an MP3 version of this!
Fuck. I'd love an album of this.
Yeahhhh! Great!!
@joctre I recently made a midi of this exact part, love to play it
I think it's clear now where the best GG tracks came from...
ray shulman had almost just as much genius composistional ideas and songwriting as well
Ray and kerry did most of the composing together.
We need more music from those two guys. I can't understand why they stopped almost a lifetime ago.
No name. It is an arrangement made by Kerry Minnear for a DVD.
@joctre
No the song that starts at 2:00 it was made by the son of Kerry Minnear
Wow! I was not aware of that. The way it builds up and then grooves, Kerry's son comes by it honestly.
@joctre I get chills every time I hear it
Does anyone notice how the first two sequences echo parts of THE POWER AND THE GLORY?
1) Has the xylophone part from "Playing the Game." 0:23
2) The drum pattern, the one and only, from "Proclamation." 1:20
The fourth sequence gives off a "Proclamation" vibe, too. 2:47
The fifth sequence uses a different part of the drum part for "Proclamation," as well. 3:54
And, of course, Kerry Minnear always loved his clavinet.
Edit: At 0:18, we have "The Advent of Panurge," don't we?
The song references come when the album passes by
@mensamoo
He wrote the theme tune to Safari in the early 80s, with Christopher Biggins
I love how they crammed Civillian into a corner. They really didn't like that album :D
I'd like to know what the synths are he plays. Especially the little one he always has at the top. No other sound like it!
Maybe...but personnaly I don't hate this album, it was more commercial but had a distinct sound specially for the guitars...
it was certainly an improvement on Giant for a Day. I'd have been very disappointed of GfaD had been their swansong..
Who were the other musicians on this?
thx
Where do u think i could find this full piece (at 4:20) elsewhere than on the DVD? I love it !! Or maybe the name of the track?
I agree, I wouldn't discount Civillian as an album, a lot of good standout tracks that you can enjoy on their own merits.
I just think it's funny, having heard what the band thought of the album in interviews, then seeing it so blatantly shuffled off into a corner.
@kikozup
opening of the 1st Giant´s DVD: giant on the box
wow where did you find those dvds?!!
I WANT SOME!!! :P
I saw KERRY MINNEAR's name on the end credits for a kids TV program once. Any info???
1:58
song that starts at 2:00 WHAT IS THE NAME OF THAT SONG????
Patrick Sarađen When the drums come in on the 2nd section you'll hear a keyboard doing the classic 'Free Hand' motive.